This coming Saturday, 9/8/12, we’re putting together a 1 day Windows 8 DevCamp! Check out the details here: http://developersguild.org
What we decided to do is put the best content from ou
Technorati Tags: windows 8,development,charlotte,microsoft
r other Win8 DevCamps (typically 2 day), and create an essential, what-you-need-to-know day of content to help you get an app up and running quickly. In addition, we decided to build the entire content around the Contoso Cookbook sample app, allowing us to focus on a single solution implementing the best practices.
Here’s an overview of the event:
We want your app in the store in time for the October 26 Windows 8 launch. Join us Saturday, September 8, at 9:00 AM in the Mt. Kilimanjaro/Mt. Everest rooms of the Charlotte Microsoft Campus to understand how simple it can be to construct a world class Windows 8 application. Don't think you can be ready to join the Windows 8 launch? Come anyway. You might be surprised. Either way you can learn what it takes to create or tune an app for Windows 8 and publish it in the Windows App Store. (Registration opens at 8:30 AM.)
Windows 8 Overview and the Windows Store
Haven't seen Windows 8 or know what it takes to get an app in the Windows Store? We'll cover that here. Drink your coffee because this first session will dive quickly into Windows 8, the platform, the changes, and the Windows Store, allowing you to monetize applications in a number of ways from in app purchases to subscriptions to trials.
Cookbook I: Design Templates and Style
In this session, we'll talk about the design principles for Windows Store applications – controls, color, typography, and general guidelines to follow to deliver the best user experiences. We'll also dive into the development choices and tooling support available. We'll begin with the built in templates and show how we can quickly scaffold a data-driven application called the Contoso Cookbook.
Cookbook II: Data, Contacts, and Settings
You've seen the Cookbook. But, how do we leverage data? How do we expose our data to allow users to search and share from the app? We'll explore these options in this session, from storing data, retrieving data via a web service using an in app purchase, to implementing search and sharing contracts, we'll look at the code that makes this possible. We'll also show how to store data locally, as well as roam preferences that can follow a user automatically as they log in to different devices.
Cookbook III: Application Bar, Tiles and Notifications
We've got the Cookbook well under way; now it's time to add some polish. We'll look at using the app bar for common tasks, and spend time talking about leveraging "live tiles" to create an up-to-date, engaging tile for your application. We'll also look at using Notifications, and how applications can run either background agents for various tasks, or be notified from a remote service using the Windows Notification Service.
Hands On: [Your App Here]
Now it's your time. We'll work in breakouts and 1:1 as necessary to get the tools and environment set up and provide guidance for building out your app. Have an app already underway? We can test, review and provide feedback against store certification requirements. As time permits, we'll cover additional features, and talk further about the certification process. And if your app isn't quite ready yet, that's fine! We're here to give you the kickstart to building your app, and we'll be here to make sure it's done by October 26th

The Windows Azure team recently posted about the Windows Azure Trust Center. One of the most frequent conversations that comes up when discussing moving applications to the cloud revolves around security and compliance, and it’s also one of the most challenging conversations to have. What makes it particularly challenging is the fact that the responsibility of compliance is typically shared between the hardware, platform, and software. The site has a few sections that in particular drill down into security, privacy, and compliance related information. Definitely good information to refer to when evaluating a move into the cloud!

From MSDN events, to roadshows, to firestarters … Now on to Camps … and just got word about the upcoming Windows Phone camps… What’s a Windows Phone Camp? For those who went to our "Windows Phone Garage" series last year, its one of those. For those new to the scene, its a free, full day event chocked full of everything you need to know to develop a Windows Phone application. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just getting started with phone app development this full-day event is for you. Interested in profit? We’ll also lead discussions on how to monetize your applications and generate profits with your apps. Don’t miss the new Windows Phone 7.5 (codename "Mango") features as well - with detailed sessions in the afternoon around Fast Application Switching, Multitasking, Live Tiles, Push Notifications, and more. The day will be capped with an open lab hands-on session and prizes for apps completed. This is the perfect opportunity to begin work on your dream application, or finish that app you’ve already started, with Windows Phone experts there to guide you every step of the way. Bring your own laptop to join in the fun and show off your killer app! Agenda 9:00 AM Welcome Campers 9:15 AM How to make money with your Windows Phone App 10:00 AM Frameworks for fun and profit > Silverlight and XNA noon-ish Canteen > Install Fest 1:00 PM Hands-on lab 3:00 PM Cool stuff your app can do 4:00 PM To the Cloud 4:45 PM Be What's Next > Peoples Choice Awards Not only is the content great, but we've got a ton of locations coming up. Note that we are not only hitting the traditional Microsoft facilities, we are hitting a ton of campus locations as well. Students can attend Microsoft facilitiy events, and professionals / entrepreneurs are more than welcome to drop in on the on-campus locations as well. Mix, mingle, network. Don't see your geography in the list? Located in the East Coast USA? Reach out to us and let's see if we can line up a Windows PhoneCamp "community edition". Schedule 9/20/2011 Charlotte, NC Registration 9/22/2011 Atlanta GA Registration 9/27/2011 Malvern PA Registration 9/29/2011 Reston VA Registration 10/12/2011 Cambridge MA National Event - Two day - Registration URL pending 10/18/2011 Chevy Chase MD Registration 10/19/2011 New York City, NY Registration 10/25/2011 Tampa FL Registration 10/27/2011 Champlain College, Burlington VT Registration 11/2/2011 NCSU, Raleigh NC Registration 11/4/2011 Fort Lauderdale, FL Registration 11/8/2011 UCF, Orlando FL Registration 11/10/2011 Univ of Miami, Coral Gables FL Registration 11/10/2011 SUNY (New Paltz), New York Registration 11/15/2011 Virginia Tech Registration 11/17/2011 Howard University, Washington DC Registration 11/29/2011 Pittsburg, PA Registration 12/1/2011 Hofstra, Long Island NY Registration 11/29/2011 Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA Registration Prerequisites: Bring a notebook computer and identification. Also check out the APP HUB where you can get developer tools, learn about application features, understand common task for Apps and register and load your APP. Notes: This event is brought to you by Microsoft and is free of charge. However, you are responsible for booking and paying for your own travel and accommodations.

@HOME WITH WINDOWS AZURE I’m really excited to announce a project my colleagues Jim, John and I have been working on. We wanted to come up with a project that would: 1) be fun for users to learn Azure, 2) help illustrate scale, 3) do something useful, and 4) be fun to develop (from our end). I think we got it! Here is a rundown: Elevate your skills with Windows Azure in this hands-on workshop! In this event we’ll guide you through the process of building and deploying a large scale Azure application. Forget about “hello world”! In less than two hours we’ll build and deploy a real cloud app that leverages the Azure data center and helps make a difference in the world. Yes, in addition to building an application that will leave you with a rock-solid understanding of the Azure platform, the solution you deploy will contribute back to Stanford’s Folding@home distributed computing project. There’s no cost to you to participate in this session; each attendee will receive a temporary, self-expiring, full-access account to work with Azure for a period of 2-weeks. Visit the project home page at http://distributed.cloudapp.net. For this briefing you will: Receive a temporary, self-expiring full-access account to work with Azure for a period of 2-weeks at no cost - accounts will be emailed to all registered attendees 24-48 hours in advance of each event. Build and deploy a real cloud app that leverages the Azure data center Who should attend? Open to developers with an interest in exploring Windows Azure through a short, hands-on workshop AGENDA 15 min WELCOME and STUDENT PREP The goal of today’s event is to help attendees build a local instance of a Windows Azure application and deploy it to an Azure data center. So, are you ready to participate in this hands-on workshop? Did you review the pre-requisites*? We hope so, but just in case you didn’t, we’ll take a few minutes to review them with you now so you’re ready to begin building your app. 15 min AZURE 101 To make sure everyone starts off with a common understanding of Microsoft’s cloud computing platform we’ll cover basic concepts for all attendees new to Azure. We’ll then provide an overview of the project, what “folding” is, and how the application is modeled. 75 min HANDS-ON WORKSHOP We’ll guide you through creating a Windows Azure cloud application in Visual Studio, leveraging both web roles (as a front end for your application) and worker roles (that will carry out the core processing). Your application will make use of Azure Table Storage as well as Azure local storage for reading/writing files. Finally, we’ll show you how to deploy your application to the cloud (using accounts provided by Microsoft) and illustrate how to use Windows Azure Diagnostics to monitor the health of the application. 15 min NEXT STEPS and WRAP-UP You’ve got two weeks of no-cost access to Windows Azure before your account expires. Where do you turn next? How can you learn more? In this segment we’ll review a host of online training resources available to you today. And, we’ll explain Microsoft’s Azure offerings for MSDN subscribers, partners, and customers. For instance, did you know an MSDN Premium subscriber receives 6000 hours of Azure compute time at no additional cost? We’ll cover this and more to make sure you leave with the knowledge necessary to take Azure to the next level. *PREREQUISITES The prerequisites are pretty straight forward and we ask that you come prepared to participate in this event by installing the required software in advance of the Live Meeting event. Visual Studio 2008 or Visual Studio 2010 Azure Tools For Visual Studio, Feb 2010 REGISTER TODAY - 9 Events to Choose from! Register By Phone or Online: Click on the Event ID to register today or call 877-673-8368 and reference the Event ID below Wednesday April 28 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM 1032450746 Tuesday May 04 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM 1032450869 Wednesday May 12 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM 1032450870 Wednesday May 19 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM 1032450871 Wednesday May 26 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM 1032450872 Tuesday June 01 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM 1032450876 Wednesday June 09 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM 1032450881 Wednesday June 16 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM 1032450882 Wednesday June 23 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM 1032450883 Presenters: Brian Hitney, Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Jim O’Neil, Developer Evangelist, Microsoft John McClelland, Partner Evangelist, Microsoft

Thanks for those who came out to the roadshow over the past few weeks! In this post, I’ll include the sample files and slides used in my ASP.NET 4.0 overview talk. A couple of notes: each presentation on the show was a bit different. In some cases, some slides were not used. Also, the VS2010 demo solutions here are “approximate” as they were done a bit differently at each venue. The webforms solution demos routing in web form as well as using the QueryExtender control. This requires an AdventureWorks database, or replace with one of your own. The AJAX sample demos client-side templates and data binding, the latter of which also requires the adventure database exposed by ADO.NET Data Services. You can easily change this to your own datasource by creating a new Entity Data Model, changing the ADO.NET Data Service to this new type, and modifying the AJAX (in Demo3) to point to the correct resource. Download: ASPNET4.zip

No fancy pictures to post – for those, head over to flickr to see what’s going on at the Venetian. After sitting in the keynote, 2 sessions, and hanging at the 3rd Place (open conversations area), having good conversations at breakfast/lunch and playing a bit of Rockband with my east-coast compatriots, I’m remembering why I love Mix so much! Here’s my impressions after day 1, in no particular order: 1) ASP.NET MVC 1.0 shipped. This is a bit of a surprise as RC2 is only a few weeks old, but hey, ship it when it’s ready. If you’ve been developing on any of the PR bits, beta bits, or RC bits, now is the time to upgrade. The process will be either completely painless or involve a modicum of pain depending on how old your bits are. :) 2) Superpreview: cool application to preview websites in different browsers. Read more on the Expression blog. What I liked was the onion-skinning and DOM tools to make it easier to troubleshoot problem spots in a site; but what really impressed me was the ability to use any locally installed browser as a rendering engine, OR a service in the cloud to simulate rending from (in theory) any other browser. 3) Silverlight 3. Brad Abrams did a great session on building business applications in Silverlight 3. You can download the bits from his blog, but I definitely recommend checking out his session when the video is posted. Towards the end, he dives into creating a friendly search engine experience so that “critical” data within an application can still be indexed and permalinked. (This has been a hang up I’ve heard from many people regarding the use of browser plug in to display data.) Additionally, he does a nice demo of the great sitemap capabilities to aid in SEO. Apparently Andrew can’t stay away from Billy, and I caught him doing this again, with Jeff Atwood on the drums. Video quality is a bit lacking as I tried to snap this last second, but someone has a better video we’ll dig up soon.

I just wanted to post a quick follow up to yesterday's MSDN Event on Windows Azure.I talked briefly about interop with other platforms, specifically in regards to REST/SOAP. At the time, I wasn't aware that we have a few samples out there ... specifically:http://www.dotnetservicesruby.com/.NET Services for Ruby is an open source software development kit (SDK) that helps Ruby programs communicate with Microsoft .NET Services using plain HTTP. Specifically the SDK includes set of REST libraries, tools, prescriptive patterns & guidance & sample applications that will enhance productivity for Ruby developers. Developers will be able to leverage the .NET Services to extend their Ruby applications by using the Microsoft cloud services platform to build, deploy and manage reliable, Internet-scale applications.http://www.jdotnetservices.com/The purpose of this project is to provide an interoperable open source software development kit(SDK) - set of libraries, tools, prescriptive patterns & guidance & real world sample applications that will enhance productivity for Java developers. Developers will be able to leverage the .NET Services to extend their Java applications by using the Microsoft cloud services platform to build, deploy and manage reliable, internet-scale applications.In addition, there's a number of nice resources on the .NET Service Bus here. Specifically, the white papers offer much more depth on the security and access control services in Azure .NET Services. For those in the session or reading the post that would like more info (particularly in the enterprise or B2B scenarios) be sure to check out this resource.